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London Shadows
LONDON SHADOWS: A GLANCE AT THE “HOMES” OF THE THOUSANDS
BY GEORGE GODWIN.
The war of nations is a frightful evil (great the sin of those who
render it necessary), but we must not shut our eyes to the direful
operations of relentless foes at home, more costly and more deadly,
though carried on with fewer trumpets. The miserable condition in
which thousands of human beings are condemned to pass their lives
in London and other large towns is a giant evil, a giant which should
be slain if we would not have it slay us. And a war against this,
fortunately, is a war which can be prosecuted without fear of loss,
and with the certainty of success. There is no question about this,-no
doubt. To whatever extent the endeavour is made, to that extent will
advantages follow; as certainly as that two and two make four, and
that we are all bound by the solemnest of injunctions to bear our part
in the fight, - a fight against dirt, disease, disorder, degradation, and
death; - a fight in a Holy War.
Only those who have examined into the evil for themselves can
judge of its enormous extent and its frightful results. We are all
interested in the removal of it, immediately and personally; and yet,
blinded by ignorance or trusting to chance, we shut our eyes to the
fact, and go on building gaols and forming penal settlements, to
punish what might have been prevented; taxing our means to pay
the cost of illness and death wickedly produced, and dying
ourselves, it may be said without irreverence, long before there is
any real necessity for doing so.
BY GEORGE GODWIN.
The war of nations is a frightful evil (great the sin of those who
render it necessary), but we must not shut our eyes to the direful
operations of relentless foes at home, more costly and more deadly,
though carried on with fewer trumpets. The miserable condition in
which thousands of human beings are condemned to pass their lives
in London and other large towns is a giant evil, a giant which should
be slain if we would not have it slay us. And a war against this,
fortunately, is a war which can be prosecuted without fear of loss,
and with the certainty of success. There is no question about this,-no
doubt. To whatever extent the endeavour is made, to that extent will
advantages follow; as certainly as that two and two make four, and
that we are all bound by the solemnest of injunctions to bear our part
in the fight, - a fight against dirt, disease, disorder, degradation, and
death; - a fight in a Holy War.
Only those who have examined into the evil for themselves can
judge of its enormous extent and its frightful results. We are all
interested in the removal of it, immediately and personally; and yet,
blinded by ignorance or trusting to chance, we shut our eyes to the
fact, and go on building gaols and forming penal settlements, to
punish what might have been prevented; taxing our means to pay
the cost of illness and death wickedly produced, and dying
ourselves, it may be said without irreverence, long before there is
any real necessity for doing so.
97 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 13, 2013
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